Swimming Lessons at Esquimalt Recreation
Swimming Lessons run on a season basis with registration opening one month prior to the seasons start:
Fall
- Swimming lessons run late September - December.
- Registration opens September 1 @ 11:00pm.
Winter
- Swimming lessons run January - March.
- Registration opens December 1 @ 11:00pm.
Spring
- Swimming lessons run April - June.
- Registration opens March 1 @ 11:00pm.
Summer
- Swimming lessons run July - August.
- Registration opens June 1 @ 11:00pm.
Lifesaving Society Swimming Lessons
Parent & Tot Lessons
Recommended age: 4 months-3 years old. The Lifesaving Society Parent & Tot Program structures in-water interaction between parent and child to stress the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills. Activities and progressions are based on child development, so parents register in the level appropriate for their child’s age: 4-12 months, 12-24 months, or 2-3 years.
Jellyfish (4-12 months)
Jellyfish provides an orientation to water for infants and their parent/caregiver. Parent/caregivers will learn how to swim safely with their infant in the pool through instruction of holds and supports. Infants will be introduced to getting their face wet, blowing bubbles, and floating with the help of their caregiver.
Prerequisite: 4 to 11 months of age, able to hold their head up. Participation with parent or caregiver is mandatory.
Goldfish (12-24 months)
Goldfish teaches toddlers how to play in the water safely! They'll learn how to enter and exit the water with help from their caregiver and will play games to encourage getting their face wet and blow bubbles in the water. Toddlers will also develop floating and kicking skills with the support of their caregiver.
Prerequisite: 12-24 months of age, participation with a parent or caregiver is mandatory.
Seahorse (24-36 months)
Seahorse teaches toddlers how to safely enter the water wearing a PFD. They’ll develop underwater skills such as submersion and opening their eyes underwater. “Starfish” floats, “pencil” floats and kicking skills are taught using songs and games.
Prerequisite: 24-36 months of age, participation with a parent or caregiver.
Preschool Lessons
Recommended age: 3-5 years. Give your child a head start on learning to swim. The Lifesaving Society Preschool program develops an appreciation and healthy respect for the water before these kids get in too deep. With our progression-based approach, we work to ensure 3–5-year-olds become comfortable in the water and have fun while developing a foundation of water skills. Water Smart® education is in all Preschool levels. Preschoolers enter Swimmer 1 once they turn five or six and enter Swimmer 2 once they’ve completed Preschool 5.
Octopus (3-5yrs)
Octopus is a transitional level which transfers the preschooler to the care of the instructor. Preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. They'll learn how to put their face in the water, blow bubbles in the water, and how to float and glide.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old.
Crab (3-5yrs)
Crab teaches preschoolers how to safely jump into chest-deep water and how to swim wearing a PFD. They’ll learn submersion skills and continue to work on floats, glides, and kicking with buoyant objects.
Prerequisites: 3-5 years old, completion of Octopus.
Orca (3-5yrs)
Orca teaches preschoolers how to enter deep water safely wearing a PFD. They’ll learn how to submerge and exhale underwater, retrieve objects underwater, and will continue developing their floating, gliding and kicking skills
Prerequisites: 3-5 years old, completion of Crab.
Sea Lion (3-5yrs)
Sea Lion teaches deep-water entries and treading water wearing a PFD. Preschoolers will become skilled at retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool in chest-deep water and performing front and side glide. Front crawl wearing a PFD is introduced.
Prerequisites: 3-5 years old, completion of Orca.
Narwhal (3-5yrs)
Narwal teaches Swim to Survive® skills wearing a PDF. Front crawl and back crawl are introduced as well as interval fitness training. Preschoolers will also learn how to tread water and perform vertical whip kick with a buoyant aid. Once complete, preschoolers register into Swimmer 2.
Prerequisites: 3-5 years old, completion of Sea Lion.
Swimmer (ages 5-13)
Recommended age: 5-12 years. The Lifesaving Society’s Swimmer program makes sure your children learn how to swim before they get in too deep. Each level challenges school-aged children to develop safe entries, deep water support, underwater skills, and swimming strokes. Kids learn healthy habits by getting and staying fit in the water. Swimmer levels include fun, hands-on teaching activities that focus on teaching water safety – lessons that will last a lifetime!
LSS Swimmer 1
These beginners will become comfortable jumping into the water with and without a PFD. They’ll learn how top open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. Floats, glides and kicking skills are introduced.
Pre-requisite: Recommended 6 years of age, no previous swimming experience required. This class is suitable for children who are new to swimming lessons, or who have taken Octopus or Crab in the past.
LSS Swimmer 2
These swimmers will jump into deeper water and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a PFD. They’ll learn how to tread water, develop kicking skills, and will be introduced to front crawl and back crawl.
Prerequisites: 5-12 years old, completion of Narwhal or Swimmer 1.
LSS Swimmer 3
These swimmers will learn how to dive and will do in-water somersaults and handstands to develop weight-transfer skills. They’ll learn Swim to Survive® skills, whip kick on back and will further develop their front crawl and back crawl.
Prerequisites: 5-12 years old, completion of Swimmer 2.
LSS Swimmer 4
These swimmers will become better at diving, treading water, and swimming underwater. They’ll learn the Swim to Survive® standard and start to develop breaststroke. Front crawl and back crawl are further developed.
Prerequisites: 5-12 years old, completion of Swimmer 3.
LSS Swimmer 5
These swimmers will master dives and swimming in deep water. They’ll further their Swim to Survive® skills and start to develop eggbeater kick. Breaststroke, front crawl, and back crawl are further developed. Interval training and sprinting drills continue to challenge these swimmers.
Pre-requisites: Successful completion Swimmer 4.
LSS Swimmer 6
These swimmers will become proficient at deep water skills including stride entries and compact jumps. They'll develop lifesaving kicks such as eggbeater and scissor kick. Breaststroke, front crawl, and back crawl are further developed. Head-up swims, interval training and a 300m workout develop strength and endurance. Prerequisites: 5-12 years old, completion of Swimmer 5.
LSS Swimmer 7 - Rookie Patrol
Swimmers continue developing front crawl, back craw and breaststroke. Swimmers develop individual fitness to meet a timed 100m swim and 350m workout. Water proficiency skills include swimming with clothes, ready position, and feet-first/head-first surface dives. Demonstrating the ability to conduct a primary assessment and calling EMS are included as first aid skills. Victim recognition and throwing assists are other key elements of the program.
Prerequisites: completion of Swimmer 6.
LSS Swimmer 8 - Ranger Patrol
Ranger Patrol enhances capability in the water including stride entries and underwater, forward and backward somersaults. Swimmers learn lifesaving sport skills with a lifesaving stroke medley, timed object support and a non-contact rescue with a buoyant aid. Eggbeater kick and increased fitness levels are developed to meet a 200m timed swim. First aid focuses on unconscious victims and obstructed airway procedures.
Prerequisites: completion of Swimmer 7 – Rookie Patrol.
LSS Swimmer 9 - Star Patrol
Star Patrol challenges swimmers with a 300m timed swim, 600m workout and a 25m object carry. Strokes are continued to be refined. Lifesaving skills included use of the rescue aids, defense methods, victim removals and supporting a victim in the shallow water. First aid focuses on treatment of bone of joint injuries and respiratory emergencies.
Prerequisites: completion of Swimmer 8 – Ranger Patrol.
Registered Private Lessons
A Little Extra Help Goes a Long Way!
Designed for 1 or 2 swimmers of any level, these lessons are ideal for those who need a little extra help, specialized instruction, or would like to work on specific skills.
- These lessons run the same days and times as group lessons.
- Registration for these lessons opens at the same time as Group Lessons.
- Participants and/or parents register the swimmer, online, at the same time as all other lessons.
- Fall
- Swimming Lessons run late September - December.
- Registration opens September 1 @ 11:00pm.
- Winter
- Swimming Lessons run January - March.
- Registration opens December 1 @ 11:00pm.
- Spring
- Swimming Lessons run April - June.
- Registration opens March 1 @ 11:00pm.
- Summer
- Swimming Lessons run July - August.
- Registration opens June 1 @ 11:00pm.
View & sign up for Registered Private Lessons by clicking the button below
Please note: We are NOT able to re-schedule or refund any missed lessons, HOWEVER feel free to send a sibling or friend in your place.
IF ADDING A SECOND PARTICIPANT:
1) Register first participant
2) Ensure you have the name, phone number, and age of second participant
3) Call 250-412-8500 and pay a $10.00 flat fee to register second swimmer
To get the best out of your lesson, we recommend that both swimmers are of similar age and swim ability.
New! Premium Private Swimming Lessons
Sometimes a little extra help can go a long way!
Request your day, time, and instructor and our team will do our best to accommodate you. Unlike Registered Private Lessons, these lessons are customizable, and can be rescheduled if you can not attend.
Available when it fits your schedule
Re-schedule up to 3 lessons as needed (with a minimum 6 hours notice).
NOTE: We can only re-schedule private lessons up to the end of a schedule period - remaining lessons will be refunded
Request your favourite instructor
Book up to 2 people/lesson
Progress cards are issued when booking 5 or more lessons
$33.50/30 minutes session
Fill out the Private Lesson Request form to start your booking process
